Training and advocacy for RCM

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About NAVAIR RCM

This site is dedicated to promoting the RCM process described in NAVAIR 00-25-403, “Guidelines for the Naval Aviation Reliability-Centered Maintenance Process” developed by the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). For years, the NAVAIR RCM process has been applied with great success on military aircraft, engines, and related equipment, including plant equipment used to maintain, overhaul, and manufacture aircraft parts. Recently this process has also been successfully applied to equipment and facilities in other industries. The NAVAIR RCM process is fully compliant with all requirements of Society of Automotive Engineer (SAE) Standard JA-1011, Evaluation Criteria for Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) Processes.

While this process was originally developed for application to aircraft and related equipment, it has been used very effectively in a variety of industries on a wide range of equipment. Because it is a public domain process, there are no restrictive or costly licensing fees. The process is free to anyone who desires to use it. This site is dedicated towards helping others who want to use RCM, use a proven and effective process. Various organizations provide expertise, training, analysis assistance, and support in the use of this process.

NAVAIR has been a leader in the development and application of RCM analysis. In one of the earliest applications of RCM principles, NAVAIR began applying Maintenance Steering Group (MSG) logic developed by the commercial airline industry to the P-3, S-3 and F-4 aircraft in the early 1970’s. In 1975, NAVAIR applied an updated version of MSG-2 called the Analytical Maintenance Program to Naval aircraft and engine programs. In 1978 the Department of Defense (DoD) sponsored DoD report AD-A066579, “Reliability Centered Maintenance” by Stanley Nowlan and Howard Heap of United Airlines. This report was based on the principles of MSG logic and was the foundation of most modern day RCM processes. Throughout the 1980’s DoD issued several documents related to RCM analysis; most notably in 1986, DoD issued MIL-STD-2173, “RCM Requirements for Naval Aircraft, Weapons Systems and Support Equipment”. This document is the basis for the current NAVAIR RCM Process. In 1996, MIL-STD-2173 was superseded by NAVAIR 00-25-403, “Guidelines for the Naval Aviation Reliability-Centered Maintenance Process”. NAVAIR 00-25-403 continues to be updated with the latest in RCM process knowledge and lessons learned.